Jennifer Ridder, the deputy campaign manager for Sen. Mark Udall’s re-election bid, is the new Mountain West regional director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

That’s the group that works to elect Democrats to Congress, which means in Colorado she will be focusing on trying to unseat U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman of Aurora in 2016. His seat is the only true tossup seat among the seven congressional districts right now, although if Democratic Congressman Ed Perlmutter of Golden ever retires there will be scramble to succeed him.

“I’m excited to help elect candidates who will put middle class families above partisan ideologies,” Ridder said. “The Republican-controlled Congress has shown it’s more interested in pursuing a radical agenda than in moving America forward and this election will give Coloradans and Democrats the opportunity to chart a new course.”

Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., center, thanks House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., right, after she announced he will take over as head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee from Rep. Steve Israel, D-N.Y., left, during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Monday. (The Associated Press)

U.S. Rep. Jared Polis

WASHINGTON — Though he made the final cut, U.S. Rep. Jared Polis was not selected by Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to lead the fundraising shop for House Democrats for the 2016 election.

Instead, U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico will chair the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Polis, a Boulder Democrat who spoke with Pelosi about the gig as late as last Thursday, called the pick an “excellent choice” and expressed some relief at being passed over for the top fundraising position.

“Congressman Ben Ray Luján is an excellent choice for the DCCC chair,” Polis said in a statement. “My top priority since being elected to Congress has always been representing the people of Colorado and I’m relieved not to have to balance that with a partisan office.”

Both Coffman, who faces state Rep. Joe Miklosi in the 6th congressional district, and Tipton, who is running against state Rep. Sal Pace in the 3rd district, voted for the Ryan budget. The plan, which passed the House but died in the Democrat-controlled Senate, would have spent about $5.3 trillion less than President Obama’s budget, but also included tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.

This is a transcript of the Coffman call (the Tipton call is identical except for the name):Read more…

Following the failed attempts of the bipartisan Congressional “super committee” to agree on a deficit reduction deal, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee on Wednesday launched a grassroots effort to hold Republican Rep. Mike Coffman “accountable” for his budget priorities.

The DCCC charges that Coffman forced the super committee to fail by “demanding more tax breaks for billionaires while insisting the Medicare guarantee be eliminated.”

It’s a nationwide push by the DCCC to target incumbent GOP congressmen, pinning much of the committee’s failure on them.

This is the first time the DCCC has targeted Coffman and seemingly it comes as a result of the new dynamics of his 6th district. Recently a decision by a Denver district judge to set new boundaries has made the district much friendlier to Democrats.

The campaign features a slew of robo calls, live phone calls and online ads.

Coffman shot back saying that the DCCC couldn’t be further from the truth, noting that he submitted two proposals for cuts to the Super Committee.

The foundation report found that the race between Democrat Michael Bennet and Republican Ken Buck and drew more than $30 million and, with primary spending included, the figure jumped to $32.78 million.

A national group that helps elect Democrats has shaved its ad buy for Congresswoman Betsy Markey, but another group is airing a commercial on her behalf.

Republicans say the reduction is a sign that Democrats believe Markey will lose to Republican Cory Gardner on Nov. 2. But Andrew Stone, spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said Markey remains such a strong contender that Emily’s List is airing an ad on her behalf:

Emily’s List, which helps elect women, is spending $300,000 on the ad. It features Kathryn Dran, the mother of an autistic child, who rips Gardner, a state lawmaker from Yuma, for voting against a bill that would mandate insurance coverage for autism treatment.

Coloradoan editor Bob Moore has a couple of thoughtful and well-researched blog postings up about money in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District race, including air time reserved by Democrats and challenger Cory Gardner’s decision to return a controversial $1,000 contribution.

First, the air time. Moore linked to an AP story that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has set aside $7 million for air time in congressional races across the country.

Moore says $744,000 of that will be set aside for the 4th congressional district race, in which Democratic Rep. Betsey Markey is trying to fend off a challenge from Gardner. Moore predicts this will be one of the most expensive House races in the country.

Republican congressional candidate Cory Gardner returned a $1,000 contribution from a political action committee led by Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, who caused a tempest last month when he apologized to BP because he thought the Obama administration was mistreating the oil giant.

While a lot of attention has been focused on the governor’s race, and the ripple effects of plagiarism revelations, it’s good to see continued scrutiny of some of the other important races in the state.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.